ADM Frank Bowman - Director of US Naval ReactorsWith the US submarine force stretched to capacity, the Navy and Department of Defense are examining both future submarine force structure and the entire realm of undersea warfare operations. They are considering whether some missions currently performed by the boats can be conducted by other means. [Jane's Defence Weekly - first posted to http://jdw.janes.com - 26 March 2004]

Increased piracy makes high seas more dangerousPirate attacks worldwide increased in frequency and violence last year with a total of 445 incidents reported compared to 370 in 2002, according to figures released by the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB).[Jane's Defence Weekly - first posted to http://jdw.janes.com - 26 March 2004]

Australia weighs up LHD optionsSpain's IZAR is competing against France's Armaris to fill the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) new two-ship Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) requirement in a quick-fire comparative evaluation of the two designs, with the preferred bidder due to be announced by the end of June 2004. [Jane's Navy International - first posted to http://jni.janes.com - 26 March 2004]

New RAN destroyers to have US flavourTechnological maturity and proven reliability are the key drivers behind Australia's recent decision to pursue a predominantly US AEGIS-based solution for its Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) requirements. [Jane's Navy International - first posted to http://jni.janes.com - 26 March 2004]

Norway receives Mine Reconnaissance SystemThe Royal Norwegian Navy (RNoN) is preparing to operationally deploy the HUGIN Mine Reconnaissance System (MRS) pilot capability after taking delivery of the new HUGIN 1000 autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) from the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) and Kongsberg Maritime.[Jane's Navy International - first posted to http://jni.janes.com - 26 March 2004]

Sharper systems for smaller shipsThe US Navy's high-profile Littoral Combat Ship program is gathering speed. Several northern European navies are already introducing advanced-technology surface combatants for the extreme littorals. Joris Janssen Lok examines the combat system technology that will be onboard these trendsetting vessels. [Jane's International Defense Review - first posted to http://idr.janes.com - 11 March 2004]

Mini-UAVs proliferate in IsraelThe Israel Defense Force (IDF) has selected Elbit to supply its Skylark miniature unmanned aerial vehicle (mini-UAV) system for close-range reconnaissance. The company says that its contender was the only one to meet all the IDF's requirements, including the ability for the UAV to land routinely within 5m of the operator. [Jane's International Defense Review - first posted to http://idr.janes.com - 11 March 2004]